Faith in Action

SOURCE: (Sun photo by Amy Davis / April 21, 2008)

Hat Tip: Baltimore Sun
2 men shot, 1 fatally, outside funeral in West Baltimore
By Gadi Dechter | Sun reporter

The packed West Baltimore funeral was unsettled before the shots rang out.

At 12:15 p.m. Monday, the Rev. Napoleon Rush was preaching on the need to stop the violence that had brought 300 mourners to Unity United Methodist Church to view the body of Anthony Lamont Izzard Sr., 26, killed April 11 in a triple shooting.

“I noticed a lot of things that was out of order,” Rush said of the overflow crowd, many of them young and, according to him, “in the drug life.”

Instead of sitting quietly in the pews, many mourners were walking in and out of the church, according to Rush, and not abiding by his calls for order.

“Most times when a minister speaks a certain thing, people will respect that, but there was none of that,” he said. “Even when we was saying, ‘Don’t come to the casket,’ they was still coming to the casket.”

And then at least eight shots were fired outside the church in the 500 block of N. Stricker St., according to witnesses. People who couldn’t find seats in the chapel “rushed in, running and screaming and hollering,” Rush said. “At that point, everybody inside started screaming and hollering too.”

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Kevin A. Slayton, Sr. is a lobbyist with the Slayton Group, LLC and is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Howard University in Washington, DC. He currently resides in Baltimore, MD.

The Gospel and Black Culture: A Past Perspective Still Relevant

The modern concept of the “mega church” in African American faith communities is raising many interesting questions about authentic discipleship today. Urban ministries in Baltimore are developing influential ministries never before introduced into the fabric of church life, while creating a visibility deserving of federal scrutiny. But is the influence being used to change the lives and communities in which these churches exist or are they perpetuating a gospel damaging to the Kingdom of God. What is the cultural phenomenon of the “Mega-church” and the impact it has on the spreading of the Gospel to a community in need?

In most urban cities across the country exist three or more churches that fit the “mega church” model, Baltimore is not different. Most are defined by huge million dollar facilities with extravagant facades, large memberships and multiple worship services. Another staple of the mega-church is cloaked in the persona of its leadership. The mega-church pastor tends to be very theatrical, charismatic, flamboyant and verbose in his/her presentation. Granted those are the characteristics that will initially attract most parishioners in the first place, in addition to amazing music ministries. The rosters of many of these churches exceed five and six thousand active members. Ironically, many of them are located in communities where the average income is far below the median. The visual dichotomy presents a very interesting contrast between the pastor and parishioner, as well as, the temple and the average homes in the community. Despite the stark differences new members continue to flock to these congregations seeking some form of renewal and hope.

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